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Abhishek's words, a liberating breeze,
Malini's heart soars, her spirit frees.
He believes in her, and her dreams so bright,
Together they'll shatter, the societal night.
The school's doors open, a new path unfolds,
Malini's joy, a treasure to behold.
Abhishek's support, a love that's true,
A partner in her journey, through life anew.
Their first hug, a moment so pure and sweet,
Malini's gratitude, a heart that skips a beat.
Thank you, she whispers, with tears of delight,
Abhishek's love, a beacon in the night.
In a world that doubts, he stands by her side,
A champion of her rights, her education's pride.
Malini's fire, a flame that will now grow,
With Abhishek's love, her spirit will glow.
•·•·•·•·•·•·••●❍•❅•°•❈•°•❅•❍●••·•·•·•·•·•·•
14th April 1846
Calcutta, Bengal
MALINI'S POV~
"My thinking is a boon," he mutters, his voice low, almost too calm, as his fingers trace the hem of my saree. "I'd love to see you burn the society's perspectives. Will you?" The question hangs between us, heavy with challenge and something I can't quite place.
I lock eyes with him, my breath hitching as I feel his warmth so close.
Without thinking, my fingers curl around his wrist, my pulse quickening.
A part of me wants to pull away, but another part of me is... curious.
What is this strange feeling he stirs inside me?
He raises his eyebrows asking the question again, and I slowly nod my head.
A quick smirk tugs on his lips.
"Good. Now sleep. It's already late" He says, leaning down to rest his head against the pillow.
I just look at him, lost in thoughts of his behaviour.
"Not feeling sleepy? Should I help you?" He asks, raising his eyebrows playfully.
"How will you help?" I ask, narrowing my eyes, skepticism bubbling up inside me.
His playful grin is infuriating—he's toying with me, and I'm not sure whether I should laugh or slap him.
"By singing a lullaby for my wife" He smirks, booping my nose, making me gasp in mock offence.
"I'm not a ki—"
Before I can finish my sentence, he yanks me to the bed, his grip tight on my wrist, and my heart jumps into my throat.
The lantern's flame flickers out, plunging the room into a shadowy half-light, leaving me disoriented and helpless against his grip.
"What are you doing?! Leave me!" I yelp, squirming and wriggling in his hold.
"Shh… calm down," he murmurs, his breath warm against my ear, sending a strange chill down my spine. "I'm not going to eat you. Just relax and sleep, Phoenix."
His voice is soft, but it carries an undertone I can't quite place—something that both unsettles and compels me.
A shiver runs down my spine, prickling my skin.
Goosebumps rise on my arms, my heartbeat quickening in a way I don't understand.
Why does his presence make me feel this way?
Is it fear?
Or something else?
Why do I feel like this?
I glance over my shoulder, my gaze meeting his gaze as his lips curl into a smirk.
It's not just a smile—it's a statement.
He's in control, and he knows it.
A flicker of frustration sparks inside me, but I quickly suppress it.
"And about your studies, I've already applied your name back to the school" He says, leaving my elbow.
My breath catches in my throat as his words sink in.
"You… what?" My eyes widen, heart thundering in disbelief.
I can't fathom why he'd do this.
Has he truly done it for me?
Or is this just another game?
"Why?"
"Don't you want that?" He grins, lifting his head up by his elbow.
"... I— I do. But why did you do that? I mean— I'm married now" I say, fidgeting with my veil.
"So? Are you going to stop your daily routine—drinking, eating, breathing, thinking, working—" He lets the list trail off, and I'm caught off guard by the finality of his words.
The weight of what he's asking hangs in the air, pressing on my chest. His voice is smooth, almost too smooth.
"And?" I prob, feeling intrigued.
"And— peeing and pooping," He says with the same smug expression.
"Ewww! Don't you feel ashamed?!" I almost gag, the queasiness in my stomach threatening to rise.
But his laugh is deep, rich, and it fills the room, catching me off guard.
The sound has a strange power over me, making my irritation fade just a little.
"Okay okay… still. Will you stop your daily routine?" He chuckles softly, his fingers brushing the end strands of my long braid.
A jolt of something electric shoots through me at the touch, and I fight to control my breath.
The intimacy of the gesture feels wrong, yet it stirs something inside me I can't explain.
"No. I'll not" I answer him, trying to pull my hair away.
"Then why will you stop your study? Isn't it your daily routine?" He asks, fixing his gaze with mine.
I gulp, unable to tear my eyes away from his deep brown gaze.
It's like he's looking straight into my soul, and a strange warmth spreads through me—part admiration, part something more dangerous.
His words, once irritating, now seem to hold more weight, and it makes my heart beat faster than I care to admit.
I slowly nod my head, watching him twirling the ends of my hair around his finger.
"But… What will your family say? And society?" I mutter, asking him to hear his unique style of explaining.
"I don't care if your family calls me unruly. I don't care if the neighbors whisper. I will fight for my right to learn, to grow, to breathe."
My breath catches in my throat as he repeats my lines from the chit, his voice echoes in the room— soft but powerful.
It feels like a door has opened, and something deep within me stirs—hope, disbelief, and an emotion I can't quite place.
"Until I'm with you, you don't have to worry about your dreams getting snatched" He says, his voice smooth and reassuring.
The tug on my braid is gentle, but it pulls me closer to him—like he's drawing me into a world where I'm not just a wife, but a person with rights.
My pulse quickens, a warmth spreading through me at the intimacy of the gesture.
A smile begins as a tremor at the corners of my mouth, then blossoms into a full grin, my heart lifting with his words.
It's like a weight I hadn't realized I was carrying is suddenly lifted.
I want to leap out of myself, to spread my wings and fly.
"Really!!?" I beam, leaning more to him in happiness.
Watching him nod with a small smile, I feel like a bird again.
Freedom— that's what I want.
In a burst of joy, I throw my arms around his neck, pulling him toward me.
His body stumbles backward, and I land half on top of him, my face flushed with exhilaration.
The warmth of his chest presses against me, and I feel a rush of affection that almost overwhelms me.
"Thank you. Thank you. Thank you! Thank you!! Thank you!!! Thank you!"
I giggle, squealing joyfully in his arms.
~ Girls are born with chopped wings until they spread them wide to fly.
჻჻჻჻჻჻჻჻჻჻჻჻჻჻.✾.჻჻჻჻჻჻჻჻჻჻჻჻჻჻
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